Anna + Nate's mid - August southern wedding was all graciousness and charm. From the high backed rocking chairs that were lined up like a string of pearls on the white porch to the floral watercolor invitations. Anna - owner of the parisian chic boutique, Clair de Lune - wanted flowers in every nook and cranny at Whitehead Manor. The historic southern manor home was the perfect place for her dreamy outdoor wedding. Smokey grays, slate blue, subtle silver and purple enhanced the gentle beauty of the grounds. Emma Loo Photography captured the day. 

How was your personal style reflected in your wedding day?

I’ve been really into watercolor prints in smokey grey’s and slate blue’s so I made sure to incorporate a lot of those into my color scheme and especially the bridesmaids dresses. I’m also very girly and loved flowers and greenery everywhere so nothing was spared. There were flowers in the bridesmaids hair, flowers on the chairs lining the isle way flowers on the posts for the cocktail tables, I just wanted the entire venue to be covered. Also our dog was there that was a must and something we asked about when touring venues.

How did you decide on your venue? Why was it the perfect choice?

We loved Whitehead Manor because of the people, it was the only venue that seemed to have a professional system for hosting weddings that’s been proven to work. The venue alone in such a beautiful southern setting sells itself, and the team of dedicated professionals used to hosting all kinds weddings is what really sold us on the venue.

Also they are dog friendly! We have two dogs our crazy puppy Ophie was at the engagement but she had to much energy for the wedding. So our Pyrenees Cam who works at my boutique part time and loves weddings came instead of Ophie.

Describe your wedding day. Is there a particular moment that remains in your memory most vividly?

So much fun!!!! It was crazy I stayed with one of my best friends the night before then we got Starbucks the morning of the wedding and we had them write bride and bridesmaid on our Starbucks cups because that was a must. We got to the venue at 10ish and started getting ready with Justin Bieber and mimosa’s it was such a nice morning, then we all got really hungry so we ordered like three large pizza’s and destroyed them all. The ceremony was beautiful but it was so hot outside; we kept it short and sweet and vowed to stick by each other in sickness and health till death do us part forever and ever. <3 Then it was time for dancing!!! And we love to dance; Nate and I were so happy to just be married to each other we danced the night away! Then my maid of honor gave the sweetest speech that made everyone cry!! She told me she started writing that speech when she met Nate and we’ve never felt more loved.

Where did you honeymoon?

We went to the Cave’s resort in Jamaica and it was beyond amazing! I found the resort on Pinterest and feel in love with it. It’s built into the side of a cliff so the views are incredible and you get to eat candlelit dinners in the cave at night and it’s so cool. The food was amazing and the snorkeling was incredible. We saw an eagle ray, a moray eel, and a lion fish!!! It was amazing we went snorkeling everyday and read books it was the perfect honeymoon I didn’t want it to end.

Tell us a little about you and Nate.

Total dreamboat, i’m beyond obsessed. He’s just so good, I come home with so many issues all the time and all he wants to do is fix them. He’s a fixer and a problem solver and that’s what I love most about him. His latest project has been the early planning and ground work on building us a house for our dogs and future family. He’s also really musically talented; he’s good at the guitar and just got a keyboard for Christmas. Since then he’s been serenading me while I cook dinners and sometimes I just don’t understand how I got so lucky.

How did you and Nate meet? What was your first impression of him? What was his first impression of you?

We met at a bar and not going to lie the actual meeting was a hazy smokey bar scene but I instantly loved his kind smile. He’s always reminded me of Dr. McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy; and once we exchanged numbers that was that. We were texting like crazy and spent hours on our first date; a casual Mexican restaurant; and it was perfect.

For our second date we went ice skating uptown and it was so fun! We enjoyed spending time with each other so much that we both refused to let the date end. When our feet were so sore from ice skating that we could barely walk, we spent the rest of the day wandering through uptown just catching up. It was like I finally met my person and we had so much to catch up on; like I had to know everything that had happened in his life up until this point; and then I had to tell him everything about my life. We ended up having our first kiss after this date and I was so done. He could have married me that day and not a thing would have changed. It’s crazy to think we fell so in love this Christmas December 2012 then just got married this past year in 2017 time flies and it’s all been so much fun!

Tell us about the proposal.

The proposal was beyond perfect, it’s funny I didn’t understand how hard it actually is for guys to propose until now; and I was talking to a friend about him planning his proposal to his girlfriend and it’s really hard. A lot of things have to fall into place all while keeping the girlfriend in the dark which is much easier said than done. Nate put so much work into our proposal and absolutely nailed it!

Every year my family has a big Memorial Day party on our family’s farm with all of our closest family and friends. I had always told him that my engagement has to be an event with all my closest family and friends present; so he decided to propose at the Memorial Day farm party! He made sure that his family was able to come as well and he drove my best friend and I all the way up from Charlotte for the party. I thought everyone was just really excited for memorial day. He even made sure his sister who has become such a good friend of mine was there; she flew all the way from Arizona for it!!

A few hours into the party he was like lets go for a walk so we went for a walk which I didn’t know at the time but it was really just to take me behind the barn so I couldn’t hear my sister on the band speakers saying that “a very special moment is about to happen for my sister right here so pay attention”. After Mary (the best sister/maid of honor ever) got off the mic Nate and I walked up to that spot and I realized everyone was staring at us. Then I turned around and he’s on one knee!!!!! He goes “you’ve been my best friend for four years how does forever sound” and I LOST MY COOL I was like YAAASSS!!! Absolutely and there was lots of hugging and celebrating and an engagement photoshoot and along with the wedding day the best day of my life!!!

What was your favorite detail? 

Bridesmaids dresses!!!!!! I had the girls pick them; we all went one afternoon last winter and narrowed it down to four different dresses. So I remember looking at four beautiful bridesmaids in four separate dresses and was like I would be alright with any of these so the girls all chose these beautiful watercolor printed Mori Lee dresses in different cuts. Which I loved but after thinking about it I did want to incorporate some subtle silvers into the wedding so we did separate Lula Kate sets for my three sisters and the result was beautiful. I somehow was able to perfectly match the silver in the sister dresses to the print in the bridesmaids dresses and the solids broke up the prints perfectly and I just loved the way it all turned out.

Did you read any wedding blogs before getting engaged or while you were planning? If so which ones and what do you like about them/ find them helpful?

Yes!! I really liked following bloggers who were getting married in the same area as me around the same time. I loved following madisadrinelson on Instagram and her blog was always so helpful. Her and her husband live in Texas but she grew up in Charlotte and had the same florist as me! I remember meeting with my florist and asking for the exact same thing Maddi did for her wedding so that was super helpful. She also posted a really good potato soup recipe the other day so she’s just an all around great blogger to follow for newly married couples in general; plus she’s pregnant now!! So we’re probably going to see lots of cute baby pictures and new mom advice in the near future.

Tell us about finding your dress.

I went to a new bridal salon every day until I found my dress I was obsessed with trying on wedding dresses I absolutely loved it. When I walked into the bridal salon I saw my dress on a mannequin and bought it 30 minutes later. When you know you know! I did my research and decided my favorite style wedding dresses were blush by Hayley Paige so I found a bridal salon that sold those dresses. So as soon as I walked into Hayden Olivia the process was easy. And I was absolutely blown away by how nice everyone at the bridal salon was. I was there for several fittings throughout the year and even brought all 10 bridesmaids to one!! They were so kind so helpful and so accommodating for me and my crazy bride tribe.

Also side note about my dress and some pre wedding drama that we can all laugh about now…when I went for my final fitting the dress was actually too small. I’m not sure how it happened but a gained just a little too much weight in the weeks leading up to the wedding and the dress didn't zip! I had two weeks until the big day and a lot of determination so after lots and lots of water and veggies and daily Tone it Up Workouts my dress fit like a dream the day of! For any other brides who go through this nightmare of a situation don’t freak out and drink lots and lots of water! Honestly I think this little scare helped me realize the importance of sticking to my regular routines during really busy times in my life. My husband always says you work harder when you take care of yourself so with all the craziness of a wedding my best advice to brides is always remember to take care of yourself and put your personal health first.

Thank you so much Anna + Nate for sharing your beautiful day with us!! We wish you both all the happiness in the world.

VENDOR PARTNERS:

Anna's Dress: Hayden Olivia Bridal | Flowers: Bookout Blooms | Wedding Planner: Chelsey Sanderson with Charlotte Fete | Cake and other Sweets: Publix | Venues: Whitehead Manor | Photography: Emma Loo Photography | Stationery : Poeme & Minted

Extra love to my wedding Planner Chelsea at Charlotte Fete!!!! There was a torrential downpour 10 minutes into the reception and she kept the dance floor from flooding so lots of love for her and the Charlotte Fette team!